It’s Your Life – Go For It!

It’s Your Life – Go For It! Created by Briony Penrose Events Manager “Get the life you love” Campaign including National Career Development Week Bachelor Creative Industries/ Bachelor Education

We all dream about our “perfect’ career We all dream about our “perfect’ career. But how do we actually take charge and make it happen????

First step: Dream! Write a list: What are my passions? What are my hobbies? What are my goals? What do I enjoy doing more than anything? What am I good at? If I could choose any job in the world what would I dream of doing?

Second step: Research Bullseye Posters http://www.deewr.gov.au/bullseye Job Guide http://www.jobguide.deewr.gov.au Myfuture http://www.myfuture.edu.au University, TAFE websites “Get the life you love” Campaign http://www.getthelifeyoulove.com.au

Third step: Network 70% of jobs are not advertised but are filled through networking. Making contacts through community organisations and professional associations can get your name out there into your chosen field.

Fourth Step: Be persistent! What makes you buy Coca Cola over Pepsi or vice versa? Its advertising & marketing. Think of yourself as a product! Market yourself as a product! When applying for a job what is going to make the employer “buy” you over the other applicants? What makes you stand out in the crowd?

Fifth step: Hard work!!!!! It takes hard work, not just luck, to get a job and achieve the career of your dreams. Think of your career planning as a job in itself. Set yourself daily, weekly or even monthly goals and to-do lists.

Sixth step: Be open to opportunities Opportunities come along when you least expect them Be open to different experiences & challenges Sometimes what seems to be a step backwards may actually be a step forward When presented with an opportunity look at it from all angles – what possibilities may come out of it? What is the worst thing that could happen if it doesn't work? Could it be the stepping stone to your dream job?

High 5 Messages of Career Development 1. Change is constant - embrace it! Recognise that the world around you is constantly changing. Be open to change and remain alert to new opportunities. Change has become a factor both at work and in life outside of work – but do you think this also applies to you? In fact, the rate of change is accelerating. People are now likely to experience many jobs, in different career fields and with different employers, during their working lives. Learning how to adapt to change is key. It is said that the future belongs to those that can see it coming. Those who are most aware of change, in themselves and the world around them, are able to make positive choices and benefit from change - rather than resist or complain about it.

2. Learning is ongoing Strive for continuous personal improvement. Stay motivated by learning new skills and developing new talents. We need to keep learning to make the most of our world. Learning opportunities are everywhere – in formal education, daily life, on the job in the workplace, on the sporting field, doing hobbies, etc. You need to keep learning – new information, new skills, new learning opportunities and ways to use the knowledge you gain.

3. Focus on the journey Don't focus on one destination only. Recognise that your career journey will be throughout your lifetime. Appreciate and value each experience along the way. Your life is a journey – uniquely yours! And it is made up of experiences gathered along the journey while the destinations are merely stops along the way. Focusing on your goals during your journey and paying attention to everything you learn or see along the way will help you achieve your goals.

4. Know yourself, believe in yourself and follow your heart Pursue your passion to find fulfilment. Discover ways to combine your interests with career opportunities. Career development puts the YOU in your career. Your career should be about doing something that you can commit to and have the skills or ability to have a realistic chance of achieving. We all do our best when we are doing something we love or have a passion for. If you have a dream, however outlandish – you are lucky! Dreams can lead to an understanding of who you really are and what you really want – a key motivator in shaping a life full of meaning, purpose and satisfaction.

5. Access your allies Rely on the support of your family, friends, mentors, colleagues and peers. Career success can be a team effort. You are surrounded by people who can assist you in making career decisions – your family, friends, friends' parents, teachers, neighbours, parents work colleagues – all may be willing and helpful allies. How can they help? Talk to them – do they know what you want to do or what your passion is? Can they help you or do they know someone who can? Ask for help and guidance, it is not a sign of weakness to ask for help. You’ll be surprised how helpful people can be when you show interest in what they do. Maybe they can introduce you to someone they know who does what you want to do. Career success can be a team effort. But be considerate of an allies’ time and effort, thank them for their help and always remember that you didn’t do it all on your own.

Reality In your lifetime you can expect six to ten job changes and three to five different occupations. You may spend time unemployed, be involved in education throughout your lifetime and move away from the area or country where you were born. You will be involved in jobs/careers that did not exist when you left school.

Thank you